LoungeMachine
10-19-2007, 12:45 PM
Putin pans 'pointless' Iraq war in TV address
President boasts of Russia's military strength and nuclear technology,
takes jabs at U.S. foreign policy in marathon Q & A session
JANE ARMSTRONG
From Friday's Globe and Mail
October 19, 2007 at 5:45 AM EDT
MOSCOW — In one of his final public addresses as President, Vladimir Putin delivered a parting rebuke to the United States for its "pointless" invasion of Iraq and bragged about Russia's growing military might - including plans for a "completely new" nuclear weapon.
Mr. Putin made the comments in a marathon, televised question-and-answer session with Russian citizens yesterday afternoon, answering nearly 70 questions from people across the country.
In response to a question posed by a serviceman at a missile base in Plesetsk, 800 kilometres north of Moscow, Mr. Putin said Russia will build another nuclear submarine next year and was planning "a completely new" atomic weapon, although he didn't elaborate.
"We have grandiose plans and they are absolutely realistic," Mr. Putin said. Later, he added: "We will develop missile technology, including completely new strategic [nuclear] complexes, completely new. Work is continuing and continuing successfully."
Most of the questions posed to the President concerned daily Russian problems such as affordable housing, pensions, rising prices and corruption. The vast majority were soft queries that sounded rehearsed.
Mr. Putin, 55, is nearing the end of his second term and is prohibited by law from seeking a third consecutive term, although he has hinted that might run for prime minister.
None of the questions submitted via phone and Internet touched on the President's spotty track record with democratic reforms.
Others simply flattered the President for his strong leadership. A man from Ekaterinburg, in the Ural Mountains, expressed concern about Russia's relationship with its former republics and asked what the country will do without Mr. Putin at the helm.
The President answered the questions, via phone and video link, from a Moscow television studio.
Other questions seemed designed to provide the President a soapbox from which to take jabs at U.S. foreign policy, including its plans to build a missile defence shield in Europe and its push for sanctions against Iran for its nuclear programs.
Threats against Iran, he said, are "harmful for international relations because dialogue with states ... is always more promising."
A mechanic from Siberia asked Mr. Putin to respond to a comment he attributed to former U.S. secretary of state Madeleine Albright, who he said once claimed that it was unjust that Russia had the exclusive right to Siberia's vast natural resources.
"I am not familiar with such a statement made by Madeleine Albright, but I know that such ideas occupy the minds of certain politicians," Mr. Putin said. "This is a kind of political erotica, which perhaps can give some people pleasure but is unlikely to yield any results."
Mr. Putin went on to criticize the United States' invasion of Iraq, saying the goal was to seize that country's oil assets.
"The best example of that are the events in Iraq - a small country that can hardly defend itself and which possesses huge oil reserves. And we see what's going on there. They've learned to shoot there, but they are not managing to bring order."
"One can wipe off a political map some tyrannical regime ... but it's absolutely pointless to fight with a people," he said. "Russia, thank God, isn't Iraq. It has enough strength and power to defend itself and its interests, both on its territory and in other parts of the world."
Mr. Putin was less forthcoming about his own political future, although he told the audience that "in 2008, in the Kremlin there will be a different person."
But after the call-in show, Mr. Putin compared himself to former U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt, who served three terms and whose New Deal was credited with lifting the country from the 1930s Depression.
Mr. Putin told Russian reporters that his economic plan for Russia is just as ambitious and might require a lengthy timeline.
"Roosevelt laid out his plan for the country's development for decades in advance," Mr. Putin said.
"At the end of the day it turned out that the implementation of that plan benefited ordinary citizens and the elites and eventually brought the United States to the position it is in today."
Many Russian voters credit Mr. Putin with bringing stability and economic growth after the chaos that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union.
President boasts of Russia's military strength and nuclear technology,
takes jabs at U.S. foreign policy in marathon Q & A session
JANE ARMSTRONG
From Friday's Globe and Mail
October 19, 2007 at 5:45 AM EDT
MOSCOW — In one of his final public addresses as President, Vladimir Putin delivered a parting rebuke to the United States for its "pointless" invasion of Iraq and bragged about Russia's growing military might - including plans for a "completely new" nuclear weapon.
Mr. Putin made the comments in a marathon, televised question-and-answer session with Russian citizens yesterday afternoon, answering nearly 70 questions from people across the country.
In response to a question posed by a serviceman at a missile base in Plesetsk, 800 kilometres north of Moscow, Mr. Putin said Russia will build another nuclear submarine next year and was planning "a completely new" atomic weapon, although he didn't elaborate.
"We have grandiose plans and they are absolutely realistic," Mr. Putin said. Later, he added: "We will develop missile technology, including completely new strategic [nuclear] complexes, completely new. Work is continuing and continuing successfully."
Most of the questions posed to the President concerned daily Russian problems such as affordable housing, pensions, rising prices and corruption. The vast majority were soft queries that sounded rehearsed.
Mr. Putin, 55, is nearing the end of his second term and is prohibited by law from seeking a third consecutive term, although he has hinted that might run for prime minister.
None of the questions submitted via phone and Internet touched on the President's spotty track record with democratic reforms.
Others simply flattered the President for his strong leadership. A man from Ekaterinburg, in the Ural Mountains, expressed concern about Russia's relationship with its former republics and asked what the country will do without Mr. Putin at the helm.
The President answered the questions, via phone and video link, from a Moscow television studio.
Other questions seemed designed to provide the President a soapbox from which to take jabs at U.S. foreign policy, including its plans to build a missile defence shield in Europe and its push for sanctions against Iran for its nuclear programs.
Threats against Iran, he said, are "harmful for international relations because dialogue with states ... is always more promising."
A mechanic from Siberia asked Mr. Putin to respond to a comment he attributed to former U.S. secretary of state Madeleine Albright, who he said once claimed that it was unjust that Russia had the exclusive right to Siberia's vast natural resources.
"I am not familiar with such a statement made by Madeleine Albright, but I know that such ideas occupy the minds of certain politicians," Mr. Putin said. "This is a kind of political erotica, which perhaps can give some people pleasure but is unlikely to yield any results."
Mr. Putin went on to criticize the United States' invasion of Iraq, saying the goal was to seize that country's oil assets.
"The best example of that are the events in Iraq - a small country that can hardly defend itself and which possesses huge oil reserves. And we see what's going on there. They've learned to shoot there, but they are not managing to bring order."
"One can wipe off a political map some tyrannical regime ... but it's absolutely pointless to fight with a people," he said. "Russia, thank God, isn't Iraq. It has enough strength and power to defend itself and its interests, both on its territory and in other parts of the world."
Mr. Putin was less forthcoming about his own political future, although he told the audience that "in 2008, in the Kremlin there will be a different person."
But after the call-in show, Mr. Putin compared himself to former U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt, who served three terms and whose New Deal was credited with lifting the country from the 1930s Depression.
Mr. Putin told Russian reporters that his economic plan for Russia is just as ambitious and might require a lengthy timeline.
"Roosevelt laid out his plan for the country's development for decades in advance," Mr. Putin said.
"At the end of the day it turned out that the implementation of that plan benefited ordinary citizens and the elites and eventually brought the United States to the position it is in today."
Many Russian voters credit Mr. Putin with bringing stability and economic growth after the chaos that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union.